Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings

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Alabama State Convention

Mt. Pleasant Home Primitive Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama

November 21-22, 1998

Saturday, November 21

The ninety-ninth session of the Alabama State Sacred Harp Convention was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman David Ivey leading song on page 32t. The morning prayer was led by John Bayer.

Leaders: Jeff Sheppard 57; Virgil Phillips 475; Cindy Franklin 137; Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas 217; Jerry Enright 74b; Connie Karduck 391; Buell Cobb 69t; Willie Mae Moon 441; Shelbie Sheppard 216; Coy Ivey 187; Linton Ballinger 186; Reba Dell Windom 276; Samuel Sommers 112; Henry Johnson 570; Gordon Wilkinson 380; B.M. Smith 273; Jeannette DePoy 34t; Charles Farris 299; Don Bowen 99; Lomax Ballinger 84; Buckley Hopper 268.

RECESS

The class was brought together by Rodney Ivey leading song on page 39t. Leaders: Cassie Franklin 224; Bud Oliver 73t; Ila Ingle 442; Glenn Keeton and Josh Keeton 189; Stuart Ivey 222; Charles Wells 143; Karen House 318; John Hocutt 516; Jenny Willard 33t; Nate Green and Norma Green 147b; Mel Kersey 566; Marie Aldridge 304; Jeff Colby 47b; Freeman Wootten 171; Daryl Mayberry 106; Travis Keeton 129; Regina Glass 298; Richard DeLong 496; Pauline Childers 269; Judy Caudle 540.

RECESS

The singing resumed with Jackie Tanner leading song on page 270. Leaders: Lorena Moore 448t; Louis Hughes, Sr. 376; Clayton Ezell 480; Thomas Willard 36b; Aubrey Barfield 551; Jon Gregg 353; Betty Herman 29t; John Bayer, Hans Bayer, and Jubal Bayer 278b; Laura Clawson 362; Velton Chafin 225b; Laura Russell 396; Lee Rogers 390; Bob Cull 312b; Eloise Clark 31t; John Redman 236; Linda Sides 328; J.L. Hopper 412; Katharine Hough 271t.

LUNCH

The class was called to order with Harrison Creel leading song on page 111b. Leaders: Karen Freund 56b; Berkley Moore 48t; Edward Howton and Maxine Lacy 290; Bob Meek 68b; Catherine Oss 67.

A business session was held for the election of officers, and the following were elected or appointed: Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—Henry Johnson; Secretaries—Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas; Chaplain—Harrison Creel; Arranging Committee—Bud Oliver, Margie Smith, and Jeannette DePoy; Memorial Committee—Connie Karduck and Louis Hughes, Sr.; Finance Committee—Don Bowen, Willie Mae Moon, and Rodney Ivey; Resolutions Committee—Buell Cobb, John Bayer, and Cassie Franklin. End of business session.

Leaders: Danny Creel 383; Michele Cull 344; Betty Wright 499; Jon Giles 524; Ashley Keeton and Pam Keeton 196; Max Berueffy 542; Tommie Spurlock 300; Judy Mincey 538; Daphene Causey 302; Walter Graff 352; Wanda Capps 76b; Scott DePoy 114; Rene Greene 528; Lynne deBenedette 456; Elene Stovall 384; Coy Ivey, David Ivey, and Rodney Ivey “Trusting”.

RECESS

Jeff Sheppard called the class to order leading song on page 110. Leaders: Kelly House 285t; Jayne Fulmer 101t; Merle Mateika 82t; Loraine Bayer and Regina Bayer 61; Daniel Hopper 451; John Merritt 240; Keith Willard 274t; Rick Russell 183; Matt Wells 49b; William Shetter 454; Sandie Scott 40; John Bealle 200; Liz Bryant 47t; David Hough 282; Jarrod George and Dennis George 354b; Marilyn Burchett 335.

Jeff Sheppard and Henry Johnson led song on page 46 as the closing song. The class was dismissed with prayer by John Bayer.

Sunday, November 22

The Sunday morning session began with Jeff Sheppard leading song on page 32t. The morning prayer was led by Harrison Creel.

Leaders: Henry Johnson 288; Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas 63; Margie Smith and Nancy Allen 373; Bud Oliver and Jeannette DePoy 142; Connie Karduck 461; Louis Hughes, Sr. 565; Don Bowen and Rodney Ivey 475; Willie Mae Moon 217; John Bayer 159; Cassie Franklin and Flarce Creel 120; Harrison Creel 512; Mattie Townsel 274t; Azilee Adams 337; David Ballinger 129; Edith Tate 89; Berkley Moore 278b; Patsy Gentle 176b; Scott DePoy 192; Teresa Ballinger 87; Richard Ivey 567; Laura Russell 156; Keith Willard 100; Betty Herman 421; Lee Rogers 291; Cecile Cox 426t.

RECESS

The singing continued with B.M. Smith leading song on page 285b. Leaders: Shelbie Sheppard 28b; Anna Marie Bullock 34b; Tim Cook 327; Bill Aplin 480; Samuel Sommers 368; Allison Ivey 138t; Rick Russell 503; Evelyn Harris 155; Jim Carnes and Celia Carnes 146; Leola Smith 340; John Etheridge 272; Lynne deBenedette and Karen Freund 182; Louis Hughes, Jr. 448t; Margie Dietz 108b; Horace Batchelor 289; Eloise Wootten 424; Milton Oliver 321.

RECESS

The class was brought to order by David Ivey leading song on page 83t. Leaders: Syble Adams 350; Marlon Wootten 201; B.J. Harris 452; Nate Green and Norma Green 566.

The memorial lesson was led at this time by Louis Hughes, Sr. and Connie Karduck. Louis Hughes, Sr. read the words from the song on page 473, and then read the names of the deceased: John Forman, Vernice Calvert, Ila McGhee, Mamie Creel, Mariam Hoobler, W.M. Atkins, Jerry Huckeba, Hadyn Creel, Keterina Sanders, Claude Moon, Gene Phillips, Kim Cagle, Ozetta Gilliland, Clifford Wakefield, Hollis Sizemore, Mae Seymour, Jerry Sheppard, Alvin Stanson, Herman Smith, Luke Allen, Elmer Cordell, Ada Godsey, Mary Ramsey Berueffy, Phillip James, Jim Freyder, and Elder T.O. Handley—Alabama; Anne Block, Newman Miles, Myretta Hardin, Ben Robinson, Elder Jason Davis, and Mary Nell Davis—Georgia; Louie Smith and Herbert Leopard—Texas; Beatrice Ezell and Margaret Wright—Tennessee; Luke Gallant—Florida; Janet Borman and Robert Goode—Illinois; John Ramsey and Julie Ramsey—Kentucky; Catherine Cessna—Pennsylvania; Thomas Berry Boyd—California; Eva Waters, M.L. Gallaway, Clyde Roney Watkins, and Toma Preston—state unknown.

Richard DeLong gave comments about the singers past and present whose presence and support made the Alabama State Convention, and led song on page 381 for the deceased.

Connie Karduck read the names of the sick and shut-ins which included: Richard Allison—Indiana; Mary Frances Dannals, Dorothy Partlett, I.V. McWhorter, Mozelle Sheppard, and Horace DeLong—Georgia; Katharine Smith and Ethel Klein—Florida; Ted Mercer—Illinois; Woodie Walker, Ruby Phillips, Jap Walton, Vester Jones, Flossie Jones, and Elder Edwin Farris—Alabama; Jeanne Schaffer—Colorida; Katherine Brooks—Massachusetts; Bill Mitchell and Winston Jones—state unknown.

B.M. Smith led song on page 390 for the sick and shur-ins. Louis Hughes, Sr. and Connie Karduck led song on page 569 (t? b?), and Charles Farris closed the memorial with prayer.

Leaders: Tommie Spurlock 430; Ann Jett 546; Jackie Tanner 298; T.J. Willard and Allison Dodson 106.

LUNCH

Coy Ivey brought the class to order leading song on page 30t. Leaders: Buell Cobb 440; Kelly House 306; George Cox 348b; Jeff Colby 148; Karen House 112; Jarrod George and Dennis George 59; Thurman Nall 74b; David Hough 33b; Bob Cull 178; Sandie Scott 117; Charles Wells 38b; Bob Meek 193; Walter Graff 287; Matt Wells 474; Jenny Willard 99; Mel Kersey 515; Lorena Moore 102; Ron Crocker 49b; Aubrey Barfield 163t; Jerry Enright 77t.

A business session was held. Cassie Franklin gave the Resolutions Committee report.

Members of the Resolution Committee wish to express thanks to:

  1. the many folks who have made the ninety-ninth session of the Alabama State Convention possible;
  2. the officers and committee members;
  3. Elder Edwin Farris and the folks of Mt. Pleasant Home Primitive Baptist Church;
  4. all the folks who so willingly and ably gave of themselves to provide dinner for both days of the Convention;
  5. all the singers from near and far who came to lift their voices in praise to our Heavenly Father, and in so doing, received a blessing for their own souls.

Respectfully submitted by: Cassie Franklin, Buell Cobb, and John Bayer.

Shelbie Sheppard gave the report for the “Directory and Minutes of Sacred Harp Singings”. Balance on hand as of November 23, 1997, $9,300.22; deposit of $512.00; balance on hand as of January 15, 1998 was $9,812.22. Printing of book for 1997-1998—$4,275.50; postage/mailing supplies for books $714.96. Balance (after expenses) on hand as of February 6, 1998—$4,821.76; deposits for 1998—$6,886.50. Balance on hand as of November 20, 1998—$11,708.26.

A motion was made to print a book of maps. After discussion by members present, motion was tabled.

Jewel Wootten gave the financial report for the convention. Balance brought forward $1,338.97; interest $54.89; collection $920.00; total $2,313.86. Supplies $126.57; chicken $72.00; B-B-Q $140.00; gift to church $250.00; minutes $60.00. Total Expenses 648.57. Balance (after expenses) $1,665.29. There were a total of seventeen states represented. End of business session.

RECESS

The class was brought together with Jon Giles leading song on page 436. Leaders: Reba Dell Windom and Pauline Childers 383; Katharine Hough 378b; Hubert Nall 84; Jon Gregg 94; Catherine Oss 556; Max Berueffy 532; Marilyn Burchett 29t; Merle Mateika 361; Michele Cull 66; Elene Stovall, Bud Oliver, and Rodney Ivey 270; Eldagene Roberson 222.

Jeff Sheppard, Henry Johnson, and Harrison Creel led song on page 62 as the closing song while the class took the parting hand. The closing prayer was led by Chaplain Harrison Creel.

Chairman—Jeff Sheppard; Vice Chairman—Henry Johnson; Secretaries—Jewel Wootten and Linda Thomas.